I thought "Cannery Row" and "Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal ?" were both excellent.
I also really enjoyed the autobiographical works of William Woodruff ( a historian ) - "The Road to Nab End", and its sequel, "Beyond Nab End". The first book covers the first 17 years of Woodruff's life from 1916 in intense poverty in Lancashire' whilst the sequel continues the story after he moved to London to look for work in 1933. As well as telling his story, it is a fascinating social history and offers a hell of a perspective on life in those days.
Just finished "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro. It concerns a group of students who are brought up in a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside but one with deeply sinister undertones. It was critically very well received ( and made into a film with Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightly ) but I'm afraid that this novel did not do it for me.
1650s-1850s are fascinating. I've just strated Macauley's hostory of England between James II to the mid 19th century. A hugely influential work and brilliantly written....
Ah, the dear old Whig Interpretation of history..........where did it all go wrong?
"One Last Strike" - Tony La Russa's latest book, essentially about the St Louis Cardinals' amazing World Series triumph in 2011 - La Russa then announcing his retirement after fifty years in baseball. Fantastic.
IJust finished "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro. It concerns a group of students who are brought up in a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside but one with deeply sinister undertones. It was critically very well received ( and made into a film with Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightly ) but I'm afraid that this novel did not do it for me.
I read that without knowing anything about it, picked it up in a hostel when backpacking. It was okay but I didn't really 'get' it, I'm not sure whether I didn't read into it enough or if it was just weird for weird's sake.
I'm reading Carra, James Carragher's autobiography at the moment (don't ask!)
One interesting snippet I didn't know, or certainly didn't remember, is that Curbs (and Gordan Strachan) was interviewed for the Liverpool job when Benitez got it.
I remember Guillem Balague saying that Curbs was second choice if they couldn't get Rafa.
Steinbeck - absolutely brilliant. If you buy Cannery Row also try and buy Sweet Thursday - they're both slim volumes but the same characters are involved. The stories are wonderful, warm, funny and life affirming. Grapes of Wrath is another belter.
Steinbeck - absolutely brilliant. If you buy Cannery Row also try and buy Sweet Thursday - they're both slim volumes but the same characters are involved. The stories are wonderful, warm, funny and life affirming. Grapes of Wrath is another belter.
Sweet Thursday is the sequel to Cannery Row so read them in order first - not that it really matters but it will make more sense.
The "Doc" in Cannery Row was based on a friend of Steinbeck's and he wrote a factual account of a marine biological exploration trip they made together in the "Log from the Sea of Cortez".
The Grapes of Wrath is though sheer genius. Probably the book I have read most often.
I read recently "Once There Was a War" - a collection of his articles as a war correspondent in Britain and Southern Europe in 1943. This didn't cover any big events focusing instead on people going about their lives as soldiers, cooks, guards etc albeit in wartime.
1650s-1850s are fascinating. I've just strated Macauley's hostory of England between James II to the mid 19th century. A hugely influential work and brilliantly written....
Ah, the dear old Whig Interpretation of history..........where did it all go wrong?
Admittedly only coming to the edn of the first volume, but Macauley seems to me so far to be perfectly balanced - condemning extremists of both sides and praising toleration.
It's interesting that his view on human progress has come back into fashion recently with books such as Pinker's Better Angels.
I've quite recently read most of Somerset Maugham's oeuvre. He had passed me by for 40 years of adult reading; I assumed he might be long-winded and pompous. Not a bit of it: he's clear and concise, and journalistic in style. Much of his work is semi-autobiographical, recounting his days as a young man tutoring in Germany in the early 20th century and as a reluctant medical student at St Thomas' Hospital. He slyly pokes fun at the stuffy Edwardian mores and manners; in a sense, Maugham was one of the early Modernists. His short stories, many about expatriates living alienated lives on Pacific islands and in the Far East, are cracking good tales.
Joyland by Stephen King. Another example of the common misconception that King only writes horror books. A fantastic storyteller. I will say now that this will follow shawshank redemption, green mile and stand by me and be turned into a great film by king.
I thought "Cannery Row" and "Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal ?" were both excellent.I also really enjoyed the autobiographical works of William Woodruff ( a historian ) - "The Road to Nab End", and its sequel, "Beyond Nab End". The first book covers the first 17 years of Woodruff's life from 1916 in intense poverty in Lancashire' whilst the sequel continues the story after he moved to London to look for work in 1933. As well as telling his story, it is a fascinating social history and offers a hell of a perspective on life in those days.
Just finished "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro. It concerns a group of students who are brought up in a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside but one with deeply sinister undertones. It was critically very well received ( and made into a film with Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightly ) but I'm afraid that this novel did not do it for me.
Good reading, Blucher. I am reluctantly coming to the end of 'Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?' Jeanette Winterson's account of her adopted childhood in Accrington in the 1960s. With being locked in the coal-hole as a punishment and left to sit on the front step all night at the age of eight, this could be a misery memoir. But Winterson is far too good for that. She uses ordinary, everyday language to convey atmosphere; her words pack a punch. It is brave, honest, sad - and grimly funny.
Just got through (yet another) novel featuring a well known anti-hero. Enjoyed the ride but the explanation at the end made for a level of disappointment I've not felt since I read Hannibal.
Hypnosis. Seriously.
To be clear; it is not possible to use hypnosis to convince someone to kill themselves. It's just not possible. As trashy and fun as this series is, blaming hypnosis was lazy and childish.
Just finished Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel. Blinding. Taking it easy with the 6th No 1 Ladies Detective book. S'ok to pass the time, but you've read 2 you've read 'em all.
Just finished "Kill your Friends" by Niven. Story of an A&R man set in 1997 with a serious alcohol, hooker and cocaine addiction willing to do pretty much anything to keep his position. Very funny in places but not for the easily offended. I'm pretty broad minded but even I felt a bit sullied by the end of it.
Just finished "Kill your Friends" by Niven. Story of an A&R man set in 1997 with a serious alcohol, hooker and cocaine addiction willing to do pretty much anything to keep his position. Very funny in places but not for the easily offended. I'm pretty broad minded but even I felt a bit sullied by the end of it.
Cannot recommend this book enough, the main character is some creation ain't he?
John Niven has done another two very funny books, the amateurs about an appalling yet enthusiastic golfer who gets hit on the head and becomes a master, along with some amusing side-effects
The other, the second coming sees the return of the protagonist from kill your friends and the return of the son of god. Well worth a read, neither are as as extreme as kill your friends but very good reads.
His last one 'cold hands' is average at best
Kill your Friends is being made into a film with Rafe Spall playing Stellfox
Just finished "Kill your Friends" by Niven. Story of an A&R man set in 1997 with a serious alcohol, hooker and cocaine addiction willing to do pretty much anything to keep his position. Very funny in places but not for the easily offended. I'm pretty broad minded but even I felt a bit sullied by the end of it.
Cannot recommend this book enough, the main character is some creation ain't he?
John Niven has done another two very funny books, the amateurs about an appalling yet enthusiastic golfer who gets hit on the head and becomes a master, along with some amusing side-effects
The other, the second coming sees the return of the protagonist from kill your friends and the return of the son of god. Well worth a read, neither are as as extreme as kill your friends but very good reads.
His last one 'cold hands' is average at best
Kill your Friends is being made into a film with Rafe Spall playing Stellfox
Loved Kill your Friends; Second Coming, less so. Anyone read Straight White Male yet?
Recently finished Jeanette Winterson's 'Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?', mostly about her brutal upbringing as an adopted child in Accrington in the 1960s. Shocking, funny, and sad - and superbly written. Next up: 'The Finkler Question' by Howard Jacobson.
Comments
I also really enjoyed the autobiographical works of William Woodruff ( a historian ) - "The Road to Nab End", and its sequel, "Beyond Nab End". The first book covers the first 17 years of Woodruff's life from 1916 in intense poverty in Lancashire' whilst the sequel continues the story after he moved to London to look for work in 1933. As well as telling his story, it is a fascinating social history and offers a hell of a perspective on life in those days.
Just finished "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro. It concerns a group of students who are brought up in a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside but one with deeply sinister undertones. It was critically very well received ( and made into a film with Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightly ) but I'm afraid that this novel did not do it for me.
Ah, the dear old Whig Interpretation of history..........where did it all go wrong?
"One Last Strike" - Tony La Russa's latest book, essentially about the St Louis Cardinals' amazing World Series triumph in 2011 - La Russa then announcing his retirement after fifty years in baseball. Fantastic.
If you buy Cannery Row also try and buy Sweet Thursday - they're both slim volumes but the same characters are involved. The stories are wonderful, warm, funny and life affirming. Grapes of Wrath is another belter.
The "Doc" in Cannery Row was based on a friend of Steinbeck's and he wrote a factual account of a marine biological exploration trip they made together in the "Log from the Sea of Cortez".
The Grapes of Wrath is though sheer genius. Probably the book I have read most often.
I read recently "Once There Was a War" - a collection of his articles as a war correspondent in Britain and Southern Europe in 1943. This didn't cover any big events focusing instead on people going about their lives as soldiers, cooks, guards etc albeit in wartime.
It's interesting that his view on human progress has come back into fashion recently with books such as Pinker's Better Angels.
Dark Star Safari ----- Paul Theroux his journey from Cairo to Cape Town. getting back into his books a great observer of people.
The First Crusade
Thomas Asbridge.
Very interesting!
Visited some friends of a friend in San Clemente, California in 1995 which is where the author lives and the area where most of his books are set.
Hypnosis. Seriously.
To be clear; it is not possible to use hypnosis to convince someone to kill themselves. It's just not possible. As trashy and fun as this series is, blaming hypnosis was lazy and childish.
Cannot recommend this book enough, the main character is some creation ain't he?
John Niven has done another two very funny books, the amateurs about an appalling yet enthusiastic golfer who gets hit on the head and becomes a master, along with some amusing side-effects
The other, the second coming sees the return of the protagonist from kill your friends and the return of the son of god. Well worth a read, neither are as as extreme as kill your friends but very good reads.
His last one 'cold hands' is average at best
Kill your Friends is being made into a film with Rafe Spall playing Stellfox
started reading it years ago but couldn't get into it, second time around very different and enjoying it very much.
I hated The God Delusion, but love his work on evolution